Bergen Elementary Provides Cheer to Sun Valley Neighborhood

For the second year, Bergen Elementary joined forces with the Sun Valley Youth Center, located in Denver, to spread some much-needed cheer to children in the Sun Valley Neighborhood of metro Denver.

The Sun Valley Youth Center is a Colorado non-profit corporation providing services to at-risk youth in the Sun Valley Neighborhood, consisting of over 900 kids all in dire need of basic items. Michelle Parr, of the Bergen PTA, has spearheaded this project, which runs for an entire calendar year. Bergen Elementary families can choose to sponsor a child, and the Sun Valley Youth Center pairs those families with the children. Evergreen families are given a picture of the child, as well as his/her shoe size, as the sponsoring families are asked to purchase a pair of good, durable, quality shoes for the child for Christmas. For many of the children, this may be the only pair of shoes he/she has. Families are also encouraged to add fun things inside the box, such as shoelaces, small stuffed animals, games or socks, as these may be the only gifts the children receive for Christmas. Michelle Parr took the large load down to the Center in mid-December, as around 150 Bergen families have signed up for the program!

The other commitment from sponsoring families is to provide “their” child with a birthday present, whenever that happens to fall during the year. Although the children are in need of basic necessities, families are reminded that it’s always fun for the child to receive toys, too! Throughout the year, Michelle delivers the wrapped birthday gifts (which include the child’s picture and name on the wrapped gift) to the children, each month.

This is truly a win-win situation. Children attending the Bergens get to be involved in making a difference in another child’s life; one who is likely much less fortunate. As for the children at the Sun Valley Youth Center, they are receiving fun, yet practical, gifts that they may not have received, otherwise. The Bergens children can feel good about putting smiles on so many children from the Sun Valley neighborhood!

Jeffco Public Schools has been providing educational excellence for more than 60 years. Our mission is to provide a quality education that prepares all children for a successful future.